Russia says it has tested nuclear-powered cruise missile, Kremlin officials claim

Mangalore Today News Network

Moscow, Oct 25, 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday announced that Moscow has successfully tested the Burevestnik (designated 9M730; NATO reporting name SSC-X-9 Skyfall), a nuclear-powered cruise missile, Kremlin officials said.

In televised remarks, Mr. Putin said the missile demonstrated a very long flight range and the ability to evade current missile-defence systems. The president’s statement included an explicit message to the United States, asserting that the weapon “cannot be stopped, cannot be intercepted, and cannot be escaped,” according to the Kremlin account.

Russian military officials, including Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, provided technical details of the exercise. They said the test on October 21 saw the missile travel about 14,000 kilometres and remain airborne for roughly 15 hours. The Russian description emphasizes that the Burevestnik is powered by a small onboard nuclear reactor, which would—if the claims are accurate—allow much longer flight duration than conventional jet or rocket propulsion.

The Kremlin has described the Burevestnik project as one of several new strategic weapons unveiled by Mr. Putin since 2018. At the time of its announcement, Russian officials said the system would have an effectively “unlimited” range because it relies on a nuclear power source rather than conventional fuel.

Western defence analysts and government officials have previously expressed scepticism about some Russian claims regarding novel strategic systems; independent confirmation of complex weapons tests typically requires corroboration from additional sources and technical data. The Russian statements released Sunday identify the system as ground-launched and describe it as carrying a nuclear warhead in addition to its nuclear propulsion.

The announcement is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny from NATO and U.S. defence authorities. Russian claims about new strategic capabilities have in the past led to calls for independent verification and assessments of potential implications for global arms control and regional security.